DIRTY DOZEN: Prohibited aquatic species ... we'll tell you 
more on Passport to Texas ... 
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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Texas Parks and Wildlife wants you to know about The 
Dirty Dozen -- twelve non-native aquatic species that are 
illegal to possess or to sell in the state.

"The Dirty Dozen list Should not be thought of as the top 
twelve."

Lance Robinson is the regional director for the coastal 
fisheries division of Texas Parks and Wildlife. 

"There are other species that are probably more detrimental 
to the state's ecosystem than the twelve that are on this 
list. These twelve species are ones that we've identified 
that are specifically tied to the seafood market, or the 
restaurant market."

If these fish simply go from aquarium to someone's 
dinner plate, where's the problem? Lance Robinson says 
we cannot be absolutely certain they will not end up in 
our waters.
 
"In other states exotic species have been introduced and 
the source of those introductions have been from the 
seafood markets, where people have taken them to the 
beach and used them in cookouts. We haven't seen that 
problem in Texas, but we're trying to be proactive and 
prevent it from happening. Because our sub-tropical 
climate here is conducive for animals like that to thrive 
and become established."

This can cause serious ecological problems in Texas. 
Tomorrow, a brochure and poster to help identify these 
species when you see them.

"And we also include information about why the particular 
species is prohibited."

That's our show ... made possible by the Sport Fish and 
Wildlife Restoration Program ... For Texas Parks and 
Wildlife ... I'm Cecilia Nasti.